Donald Trump during a rally in Greensboro on Saturday compared North Carolina Lt. Gov Mark Robinson to iconic Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. when he formally endorsed the 55-year-old for governor.
According to The Associated Press, Trump, who is campaigning to earn the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, tagged Robinson as “Martin Luther King on steroids.” “I think you’re better than Martin Luther King,” Trump, 77, added. “I think you are Martin Luther King times two.” “You should like it,” he continued.
Trump also labeled Robinson as an “incredible gentleman” and a “great, natural speaker.” Responding to the endorsement in a statement, Robinson, who made history when he became North Carolina’s first Black lieutenant governor when he was elected in 2020, said he was “humbled” by Trump’s support and was eager to work with him to “lead our united Republican ticket to victory in November, and get our state and country back on track.”
The North Carolina Republican primaries will be held on Tuesday, March 5, and Robinson is among many other candidates Trump has endorsed. The former president said they have his “complete and total endorsement.” Robinson, an outspoken Trump supporter, is reportedly tipped to win the state’s GOP gubernatorial nomination on Tuesday.
Despite the strong support, Robinson’s rivals – State Treasurer Dale Folwell and trial attorney Bill Graham – have raised doubts about the 55-year-old emerging victorious in November’s gubernatorial elections, The Associated Press reported. The candidates highlighted past offensive comments he made about the LGBTQ+ community and on other topics.
The past comments Robinson made that drew backlash included suggesting that the promotion of homosexuality could open the gates to pedophilia, NBC News reported. He also chastised survivors of shootings who are campaigning for gun-control reform. Robinson has further been accused of making antisemitic comments in the past, though he has denied that.
“There have been some Facebook posts that were poorly worded on my part,” he said during an October event at the state Legislature, per WRAL. “There is no antisemitism standing here in front of you.”
There were calls for Robinson’s resignation in 2021 over comments he made about children being taught about transgenderism and homosexuality. “There’s no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth,” he said at the time.
But the 55-year-old later responded saying, “Let me be clear: I will fight for and protect the rights of all citizens, including those in the LGBTQ community to express themselves however they want.”
He added: “That is their right as Americans, and I don’t think the government has any role in telling them otherwise. However, the idea that our children should be taught about concepts of transgenderism and be exposed to sexually explicit materials in the classrooms is abhorrent.”
